Kyle Busch supports Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s recent comment about the older generation of racers. Busch and Jimmie Johnson (Via IMAGO) were both influenced by Johnson’s impact on the sport early in his career. One of the notable changes he brought was the emphasis on fitness. Prior to Johnson, fitness was not a top priority for racers. However, seeing Johnson’s success, teams began pushing their drivers to be in better shape.
Recently, a NASCAR Hall of Famer discussed the impact of Jimmie Johnson’s fitness regimen. He mentioned that when he became Johnson’s teammate in 2008, he was also encouraged to improve his fitness and leave behind his wild lifestyle. However, he found that this decision did not yield positive results for him personally, and he returned to his previous habits.
During a recent appearance on the Pat McAfee show, a two-time NASCAR champion who had also been teammates with Johnson shared his thoughts on Earnhardt Jr.’s opinion. He revealed that he too was asked to focus on his fitness when he started gaining weight. He dedicated six months to intense workouts, but did not see the expected outcome. This driver, Kyle Busch, believes that the car itself plays a significant role in a driver’s success, not just their physical condition.
Busch pointed out that Jimmie Johnson consistently had the fastest cars during his dominant years. He believes that Johnson’s success was a result of everything aligning perfectly for him, including having a superior car. While Busch acknowledges that Johnson’s car played a role in his victories, he also suggests that Johnson’s fitness approach may not be the right fit for every driver.
In conclusion, Kyle Busch supports Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s comment about the older generation of racers. He believes that Jimmie Johnson’s success was influenced by both his fitness and having a superior car. However, Busch also acknowledges that not every driver can achieve the same results with the same approach.